The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-07-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Washington, July 2nd.

Washington, July 2nd. 1887
June 3Otll, being the end of the
fiscal year, there is now much fear
among many of the Department
clerks as a reduced legislature ap-
preparation bill makes necessary n
corresponding reduction in the Gle
rical force of the Government, and
it is certain that a shower OF official
heads will fall into the department
waste-basket. For this reason not
a few clerks have deferred taking
their usual leave, not wishing to be
too far away from their influential
friends on this dread day. At this
time, too, the presence Of an un-
usually large number of Congress-
men in the city is due to Il desire
to protect their proteges.
One day this week tho Depart
ment Of Justice was draped IN mour-
ming in memory Of James Speed,
Attorney General in Z resident Lin
coins Cabinet. Mr. Speed was n
stcadfast Republican until 1884,
when he repented OF his evil polit.
ical associations ways and redeem
ed himself by enlisting i'm the col
m of Cleveland an d Hendricks.
If there had been a few thousand
such women on the Union side az
sh Q Of whom / write, the Civil
war would not have lasted two
years. This lady, aMrSBrown, of w
Va, has borne in all 33 children, 30
Of the number being boys, 16 of
whom served in the Union Army,
of which number but two were kill
ed; each OF the other IA draws n
PENSION from the Government for
disabilities received in service and
the death oftwO sons also entities
the mother to q pension. General
Black says the files of the Office
fail to show another record where
the Is sons of n father and moth
er served in the late war.
The military spirit lately infused
into the citizens Of Washington is
still rife, rs is evidenced by the or
g%aniZation of three or four militia
companies during the past month,
which have been formed into a Ma
tional Guard, under the direction
and command of General Ordway.
so that ia case of foreign invasion
or c civil conflict the Capitol of the
Nation would be able to furnish
many defenders from its own fire.
sides.
1t is n matter of history that the
original Grand Army of the ReDub-
lie vas almost disrupted, that its in
fiuence and usefulness was impair
ed, and that 1t had to be reorganiz-
ed because its managers unWisely
permitted 1t turned into q partisan
Republican machine. Itnow seems
that history Is about to repeat itself
in this instance, as General Fair
child, its cOmmander~in-chief, saws
that the financial work of last wear
vas the drafting ofthe Department
Pension Bill. A Bill has been made
out and sent to all OF the posts TOR
approval, those Of this city having
given their endorsement, another
attempt will be made to haul mil
lions out of the Treasury. Then
the Tuttle and battle-fiag episodes |
considered in the same connection i
seem to clearly f~ore-shadow q pOlit-
ical conspiracy in the Grand Army.
Therefore ] advise Democratic
members of the G.. A. II. to keep q
sharp eye on their Republican
brethren all along the line.
Report has 1t that there is u Sc
riOus arrangement between the
President and Secretary Endicott.
That the resignation Of the man of
ancient and illustrious lineage has
been called for, and will lbe forth
coming within 80 days. 1t is
thought the last difference arose
out ofthe Secretary's hasty action
In adVising the return of tide battle
flags, although / am informed that
there has long been a painful lack
Of cordiality between tho two gen.
tlemen, and that any body else but
t'ie Secretary would have resigned